In today’s tech-driven landscape, there has been a surge in fraudulent activities specifically aimed at Indian customers. One of the infamous tactics gaining popularity among fraudsters is “SMS Spoofing”. To put it simply, it involves manipulating the sender’s information in text messages to give the appearance of legitimacy, often by impersonating people’s banks and financial institutions.
One of the biggest motives behind spoofing is that it can trick individuals into believing that they have received a message from the official bank. Thus, in this way, fraudsters can gain access to the personal information of the customers whenever they click on the link received. Once these fraudsters link the victim’s UPI to their own devices, they can easily transfer the money from customers’ accounts to their personal accounts. Since this technique of fraud has become quite common, it is important to understand what it is and how it works in detail.
In this post, we’ll discuss the meaning, functioning, and measures to prevent SMS spoofing to protect against falling victim to such scams.
Understanding SMS Spoofing: What is It?
In layman’s language, SMS spoofing refers to the fraudulent practice of manipulating the sender information displayed in a text message. In this technique, fraudsters alter the caller ID or display name to make it appear as if the message came from a legitimate and trusted source. Scammers can spoof the SMS sender’s information and can impersonate banks, financial institutions, government agencies, and even individuals known to the recipient.
SMS spoofing’s purpose is to deceive the recipient into thinking the message is received from a trusted source. Furthermore, fraudsters can trick individuals and hack their personal information, account details, residence addresses, OTPs (One-Time Passwords), and more.
How Does SMS Spoofing Work?
When it comes to the working of SMS spoofing, it could be simple for customers to understand but easy for fraudsters. But before going ahead, let’s talk about the tool. Remember that there is some version of Kali Linux, a popular operating system used in ethical hacking and cybersecurity, which comes with a built-in tool called the “Social-Engineer Toolkit”. It includes an SMS spoofing attack vendor tool that allows anyone with basic technical skills to send a spoofed text message that impersonates any phone number or sender name they choose.
Speaking of the process, the fraudster chooses a tool or an online service that offers SMS Spoofing capabilities. The fraudsters input the desired sender information, such as a phone number or name, to make the message appear as though it’s coming from a legal and trusted source. After that, the culprit writes the content of the message, which often includes calls to action like “Click to Know More”, “Buy Now”, “Instant Cash in 2 Mins”, and more. These fraudsters employ a wide range of methods to deliver malicious files to their targets and utilize popular communication channels like text messages, WhatsApp, or any social media platform.
What are the Different Types of SMS Spoofing?
Here is a list of the types of SMS spoofing.
- Fake Sender Identification
One of the popular types of spoofing is fake sender identification, where the sender’s identity is falsified to appear as a bank, credit card provider, or other trusted organization. The goal is often to trick recipients into sharing sensitive information, such as account passwords, numbers, or person identification details. These messages can look very convincing and may include logos, official-sounding language, and even links to spoofed websites that mimic the trusted ones.
- Harassment
Another popular type of SMS Spoofing is harassment, in which fraudsters send unwanted or disturbing messages to the victims. These messages can range from threatening texts to incessant pranks, which may cause significant emotional distress. In some cases, the harasser may demand money or personal favours to stop the harassment, which may exploit the victim’s fear and anxiety.
- False Prize Notifications
In this type of SMS spoofing, scammers send text messages claiming that you have won a prize or 1 cr. cash. To claim the prize, the recipient is asked to provide personal or banking information, often under the guise of verifying identity or covering shipping costs. After that, the scammers use this information to identify theft or fraud, which may leave the recipient with losses instead of rewards.
- Fake Websites
Last but not least, hackers may use SMS spoofing to send links to fake websites. These messages often come from trusted sources like friends, colleagues, or known companies. When the recipient clicks on these links, they are redirected to websites that install malware on their devices. This malware can then be used to collect personal data, monitor communications, or gain unauthorized access to company resources which may pose a significant security risk.
What are the Strong Measures to Prevent SMS Spoofing?
Let’s take a look at the prevention measures that you should know about.
Be Aware of Suspicious SMS Links
One of the best ways to prevent SMS spoofing is to avoid clicking on links in text messages, even if they appear to come from a trusted source. Instead, contact the legal company directly using their contact details to verify the message’s authenticity. Remember that fraudulent links can lead to malicious websites or download malware onto your device.
- Don’t Overlook Spelling Errors & Inconsistencies
Another major way to prevent SMS Spoofing is that scammers often run into spelling errors or minor changes in the sender’s name or number to fool recipients. Ensure you carefully examine the sender’s information and look for any discrepancies that may include a spoofed message.
- Stay From Message Creating Urgency
One major way to prevent spoofing is to create a sense of urgency or demand immediate action, such as transferring money or providing personal information. Remember that legal or trusted organizations don’t use such tactics. Make sure you think and verify the message before responding.
- Look Out for Encryption Before Clicking Links
Make sure that the links you intend to click are secure. Remember that encrypted URLs (Starting with “HTTP” instead of HTTPs) may indicate a potential scam. Ensure you use credible URL scanning tools to verify the safety of suspicious links before clicking.
- Report & Block Suspicious Users
Last but not least, if you receive a text message that appears to be a phishing attempt or scam, report the number to your mobile carrier, and block it to prevent further communication. Many carriers and regulatory bodies have mechanisms in place to handle and investigate such reports.
Final Thought
So, there you have it! Remember that implementing strong authentication measures can help protect against SMS Spoofing. Some of the measures may include two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible, which adds an extra layer of security by requiring an additional verification step beyond a simple SMS code.
With these authentication measures, you can reduce the risks of falling victim to SMS spoofing. Remember to always stay vigilant, exercise caution when interacting with text messages, and prioritize the security of your personal information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Listed below are the frequently asked questions related to the SMS spoofing.
Yes, there are many useful applications for SMS spoofing. To make it simpler for recipients to identify the sender, bulk messaging services and formal organizations may employ SMS spoofing to display their company name rather than a phone number.
No, an ordinary user cannot track the source of a fake SMS message. A spoof text is deleted immediately, and its source and the service from which it came cannot be tracked.
Although there are no perfect solutions for individual users, SMS firewalls can assist companies and cell operators in protecting their networks and consumers against fraudulent activities such as SMS spoofing. These firewalls can stop SMS traffic and only allow messages that come from trusted sources.
Even while SMS spoofing is meant to look real, some clues, like strange sender information, suspicious links, or words that showcase urgency, can point to a message’s fake nature.
Yes, SMS spoofing, also known as “Smishing,” is utilized for fraud. Always remember that sending false texts to allow recipients to steal confidential information is known as smishing.
